The suspect in a Lake Peekskill double murder-suicide was put on leave from his job at the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant about a week before the murders.

State police found the bodies of 51-year-old Steven Lessard, his 48-year-old wife Kathy and his 14-year-old daughter Linda on Monday. According to police, Lessard strangled his wife and daughter before taking his own life. Police say the murders probably occurred late Thursday or early Friday.

Entergy officials confirm Lessard was put on leave for erratic behavior about a week ago. Entergy spokesman Jim Steets says help was offered to Lessard, but he declined. Steets says Lessard claimed he was seeing his own doctor and was satisfied. Steets says despite the somewhat irrational behavior, Lessard was expected to return to his job as a planning engineer, a position he had since 1995.

Investigators say they found evidence that Lessard was also having trouble at home. Police have not yet revealed how Lessard was killed, if any weapons were found in the house or if he left a note.

Related Information Lake Peekskill man kills wife and daughter in double murder-suicide, cops say